THE Swan Hill region has thrown its support behind a 12-year-old boy who was seriously injured in a freak motocross bike accident.
Lukas Hill, a Grade 6 student at Beverford District Primary School, was racing at an event in Balranald on May 23 when he came off the bike, suffering life threatening injuries.
Lukas’ father, Robert Hill, said the family were unsure what exactly happened.
“The bike stopped, he came off and the bike kind of landed on him,” Mr Hill said.
“He was fully kitted up – wearing a helmet, armour, neck brace – all the protective gear.
“If you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, these things happen.
“It was pretty serious and very, very unlucky.”
Lukas is being treated for a tear to the heart and damage to his lungs, at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, where he remains in a critical condition, in the intensive care unit.
“He has improved, and been a bit responsive and awake, but there’s still got a long way to go,” Mr Hill said.
“He’s improving slowly – he’s on the right path.”
Generous benefactors have already raised more than $21,000 to support his family through their ordeal.
Mr Hill said members of the Balranald Motorcycle Club were “amazing”, from the time of the accident to getting Lukas in the helicopter to be flown to Melbourne.
“There were a few ambos who were on that afternoon,” he said. “The decision making and what they did potentially saved his life.
“It became aware pretty quick that he was critical.”
Lukas underwent surgery as soon as he arrived at the hospital.
“Then, a couple of days later, when they got him to a point where he was OK, they did another surgery on his heart,” Mr Hill said.
“Now, he’s still critical, but you need to put it into perspective that it will be a long recovery.”
Mr Hill said Lukas’ breathing was being assisted by an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine.
But he said it was unclear what the long-term impact of the accident would be.
“We’re hoping he’ll make a full recovery, but at the moment we’re focusing on day-to-day,” Mr Hill said.
“In the environment we’re in – we don’t even think about three days – we’re thinking about 24 hours at a time.”
Lukas is a member of both the Swan Hill Motorcycling Club and Balranald Motorcycle Club, and has been racing for 10 years.
“That’s his life,” Mr Hill said. “He had his first bike, a four-wheeler, when he was drinking milk out his bottle.
“He was about three when he started riding on three wheels – he could ride a motorbike before he could ride a bicycle.
“He owned a PeeWee 50 (motorbike) before he owned a pushbike.”
While Lukas is being treated, Mr Hill, his partner Donna Smith and Lukas’ 16-year-old brother Charlie are being housed in Melbourne through Ronald McDonald House Charities, where Charlie recently celebrated his 16th birthday.
Charlie is in year 10 at St Mary MacKillop College.
Mr Hill said it wasn’t until he stayed there that he could understand the support the charity gave families.
“We’re in here with other people going through similar things,” he said.
Various fundraisers have been set up to support Lukas and his family financially, including a GoFundMe page, a raffle on Kangaroo Island (where the family used to live), and fundraisers at local schools, and an auction through Balranald Motorcycle Club.
“The support we’ve been getting has been overwhelming,” Mr Hill said. “It’s beyond everything he could ever imagine.
“You don’t see it coming, but it’s been an integral part of helping us out.
“Especially due to the c word (Covid), we haven’t been able to have family or close support here.
“Some family from South Australia visited for two days and Donna’s family from Victoria, but then Victoria went into lockdown two days later.”
To donate to the family, search for Help for our Lukey on GoFundMe.
LUKAS’ schoolmates wore orange on June 10, as part of a fundraiser for their injured pal.
Beverford District Primary School principal Phil Cox said the school chose that colour because it was Lukas’ favourite – and the colour of his KTM bike.
“We came up with the concept of doing a coin line,” Mr Cox said.
“Our coin line was 169 metres. We did orange hair, orange nails, and we made Lukas gifts that will be sent down to him. It was a wonderful day.”
Mr Cox said other schools in the district – Woorinen District Primary School, Swan Hill North Primary School, Lake Boga Primary School Swan Hill College’s Flexible Learning Option campus, and St Mary MacKillop College – also jumped on board.
Almost $4500 was raised for Lukas’ family.
Mr Hill thanked the community and schools for their support.
“We didn’t expect it, but it’s just being done. The help is greatly appreciated through the tough times. Phil has been exceptional in organising (the schools fundraisers),” he said.
